CIVIL ARCHITECTURE. 



rtttixt. those which were of a circular form, the most celebra- 



' v ted of which was the Pantheon at Rome. It has been 

 generally attributed wholly to Agrippa ; but from care* 



flwiral fit research, (see (Maurice's Indian Antiquities,) DCS- 

 godetx asserts, that the body of the edifice is of much 

 earlier origin ; ind that Agnppa only new modelled and 

 embellished the inside, and added the magnificent por- 

 tico. Desgodetz, indeed, gives a Plate, shewing the 

 stale of it previous to the time of Agrippa; but the 

 Plate and description we shall insert in this work, repre- 

 sent the edifice in it improved condition. Pespodetz 

 hews no architectural orders on the outside of the cir- 

 cular body of the edifice ; whereas, Montfaucon gives 

 an elevation from La Freri, in which there are, first, a 

 high basement, then a regular Corinthian order, and up- 

 on that a regular composite order. We shall, however, 



v follow Desgodct 7. The dimensions are in French feet. 



OMUL ScePlateCLXII. 



, or The body of the temple is circular. The inside dia- 



sUmMu>c% meter, taken on the ground floor, exclusive of the cha- 

 pel recesses, it 133 feet ; the thickness of the outer wall 

 it 19 feet l inches ; making the diameter of the outer 

 circle 171 feet 3 inches. The height from the floor to 

 the level of the springing of the dome is G5 feet 9-J in- 

 ches. The dome being semicircular, would, if complete, 

 rise half the diameter. The opening at the top, how- 

 ever, takes something from this ; but is compensated in 

 the extension of the diameter, by the upper order rece- 

 ding from the vertical face of that below ; so that the 

 rise may be taken at half the diameter on the ground 

 plan, viz. 66 feet 6 inches ; making the whole height 

 from the pavement to the top 132 feet 3J inches, or very 

 nearly equal to the inside diameter. 



Around the lower area there ?re seven chapels, in the 

 thickness of the walls, each 27 feet wide, except that 

 opposite the great entrance, which is 28 feet 9f inches 

 wide. The three on each side have each two columns in 

 the line of the entrance ; two of them are square, and 

 the middle one circular. That opposite the entrance is 

 il-;o circular, with a semicircular niche head. It has no 

 columns in it, but one projecting without the general 

 u.'c of the walls, opposite to the pilasters on each side 

 f the recess. The pilasters, on the side of the six cha- 

 pel recesses, are square on their plan. The line which 

 passes through their middle tends to the centre of the 

 temple, as do the faces of the semi-pilasters in the in- 

 r angles of the four square chapel recesses. Between 

 each of those chapels there is a tabernacle, each with 

 two isolated columns and pilasters behind them, support- 

 ing alternately pointed and circular pediments. In the 

 thickness of the wall there are void spaces, three tiers 

 ever each other, vaulted like niches. The lower ones 

 were entered from the outside of the building ; these 

 have been made to lessen the quantity of the solid work, 

 which would otherwise have been very great. 



The Corinthian fluted columns and pilasters, which 

 compose the lower interstices, stand immediately on the 

 pavement. They are 3 feet 5 inches diameter, and 32 

 feet S T ' T inches high ; the entablature is 7 feet B-,\ in- 

 ches ; making the whole order 40 feet 2 inches. The 

 second order stands upon a high pedestal, and has a 

 large cornice, but the pilasters, which arc composite, 

 are slender. In this attic there arc 14 windows, but 

 the tf ir.ple is lighted chiefly by the great entrance, and 

 the circular opening at the top of the dome, which is 

 -et in diameter. The dome has 28 vertical bands, 

 which, besides the upper and lower margins, are crossed 

 horizontally by four bands, which_ composes 28 X .1=140 

 square panocii, deeply recessed by degrees or square fil- 



lets. The entablature of the upper order pmtsei qnite > 

 round the edifice without any break ; and the lower en- '"'Y'^* 

 tahlature is only interrupted at the great entrance, aud 

 chapel recess opposite to it. 



The portico is 98 feet 4j inches long, between the Portic*. 

 ccnttc and centre of the extreme or angular columns of 

 the front, and 41 feet 51- inches in breadth, from the 

 centre of the angular column to the middle of the ; 

 ter, or anti of the solid part of the porch. Thti 

 eight columns in front, and three deep ; but eight c 

 inner columns are omitted, viz. four opposite th 

 tra .tc, and two opposite each niche on each side of the 

 entrance. The angular column is 4 feet 8^ inches, and 

 the other 4 feet 6f inches diameter. The middle ins 

 calumniation is 10 feet 4$ inches, and the next 9 : 

 inches. The height, including base and capital, is 1<> 

 modules 16f parts, which, taking the module from 

 the angle column, makes the height equal to 4'. 

 and the whole order 53 feet. The soffits of the pro- 

 naus arc ornamented by pannclling of different forme. 

 The great entrance is 36 feet \' r inch high, and 18 ! 

 4; inches wide. The jambs are each ?.bou; 

 width of the door, and each worked out of two j <. 

 The lintel is only one piece. In the pronaus on eac'.i 

 side of the entrance is a large niche 17 feet 10 inches <! 

 meter. Besides the 1G isolated columns, there arc th- 

 fluted pilasters on each side. Upon the square solid 

 part of the porch, which projects from the circular ! 

 dy of the edifice, the diminution of the columns begins 

 at the bottom. The bases, capitals and entablature are of 

 white marble. The shafts are of Egyptian granite, each 

 of one piece. The pilasters, with their bases and capi- 

 tals, are of white marble. The base round the outside, 

 of the building is of marble all the rest of brick. The 

 inside of the temple was inciusted with marble, as was 

 the portico. 



The circular body of the edifice is encompassed round Outs>J<v. 

 the outside by three cornices. The top of the first is at 

 the height of 38 feet 10 inches from the kvcl of the up- 

 per step of the portico ; from the top of the first to the 

 top of the second cornice is 29 feet ; from the top of 

 the second to the top of the third is 26 feet 64 inches ; 

 these taken together make 9* feet 4^ inches. The cor- 

 nices increase in size as they ascend ; the upper one be- 

 ing 3 feet 6 inches thick, and 3 feet 1-J inches projec- 

 tion : the two upper ones have modillions cut in stone ; 

 all the rest are of brick. Above the upper cornice is a 

 retreat of 8 feet 11J inches, which slopes 1S-J- inches. 

 Over this retreat is a socle or pedestal, 6 feet 9 inches 

 high, which has a small cornice. Upon this is a retreat 

 of 4 feet 4 inches. The degrees, or plinths, or steps of 

 the dome, which are six in number, have a slope ; their 

 edges are rounded, and they were covered with lead. 

 The flat part at the top, which contains the opening, is 

 37 feet 5} inches. From the top of the upper cornice 

 there is a small stair upon the outside of the dome lead- 

 ing to the top. On the outside of the circular body of 

 the edifice, there appear arches in the brickwork in two 

 tiers vertically over the chapel recesses, and other re- 

 cesses in the walls. If the cornices, which encompass 

 the edifice, are correctly marked by Desgodetz, there 

 is neither recess nor projection, to admit of the Corin- 

 thian and composite orders, shewn in the elevation given 

 by Montfaucon from La Freri. 



The small circular temple of Vesta at Tivoli. (see T Ie , 

 Plate CLXIII.) about five or six leagues from Rome, VcM 'f, at 

 is built of Tiburtine stone, except the walls, which are Tivoli. 

 of flint. A row of 18 Corinthian fluted columns surrounds Part 

 the cell, (rum the wall of which they stand 5 feet ?>{ inches CLXIII 



